2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide

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Ask iLounge 12-22-05

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By Jerrod H.

Contributing Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Category: Ask iLounge

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy music from my iPod onto my computer?

Click here for the answer.

The second most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I put DVDs on my iPod?


For converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and home movies to your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV, we have a three-part series outlining the best formats, settings, and various tools to use for converting all types of video content for use on these devices.

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Windows)

Top five questions most recently asked by iLounge readers:

Q: What are the best speakers to use with my iPod? (15, 76-79, and 90-92)

Q: What are the best headphones to use with my iPod? (10, 72-75, and 90-92)

Q: I really want to get a nice case for my iPod. Do you have any suggestions? (36-37, 54-67, and 90-92)

Q: How can I connect my iPod to my car stereo? (14, 32-35, 68-71, and 90-92)

Q: Are there any batteries that I can use to extend my iPod's battery life? (82-83 and 90-92)

A: Answers to these and many other questions can be found in two places. Our Free iPod Book 3.3 provides a complete report card to all of the iPod accessories we've reviewed as of summer 2007, as well as over 125 iTunes and iPod tips & tricks. Further, our new 2008 iPod & iPhone Buyers' Guide has accessory tutorials at the page numbers listed in parentheses above. These and other publications in our Library are free downloads, developed by the editors of iLounge!

And now, for this week's Ask iLounge column:

Q:

I have a question regarding sorting files in my iPod. In iTunes, I can sort all files by clicking the column header to by that field. How can I do this in my iPod? I sometimes would like to sort alphabetically ascending or descending?

- Jason

A:

While the iPod can sort via any field in an ascending sense (via the built-in “Music” sub-menus), you really can’t get descending sorts at all. For specially-sorted listings of “Songs,” you could do the following:

  1. Create a Smart Playlist with “Size” “is greater than” “0 MB”. This will always include your entire library, no matter what you change.
  2. Sort it how you’d like. For example, simply sort by Songs, Alphabetically Ascending. Name this playlist “Songs: ABC”.
  3. Then, create a second smart playlist equivalent to the first, only sort it in a descending manner and name it “Songs: ZYX”

Since playlist sorting is maintained upon synchronization to the iPod, this method will work fine. You’re welcome to try additional playlists that sort by Artist or Album as well, but remember that the iPod’s playlist browsing interface will only show you the track title, making such a browse difficult. Here, you’re probably out of luck.

Q:

How do I manually transfer voice memos from my iPod to iTunes? I did not get the automatic prompt to transfer them (for reasons unknown), and so I’d like to manually import and convert them into MP3s for archiving.

- Kris

A:

Voice memo automatic transfer should take place if your iPod is set to transfer songs automatically, with Voice memos being added to the “Voice Memos” playlist in your iTunes library. If you’d rather not use the automatic synchronization mode, the voice memo files can indeed be manually retreived from the iPod’s hard drive in the “Recordings” folder. They are saved by the iPod as WAV files. Note that you’ll need your iPod to be in Disk Mode for this to work. In iTunes’ iPod preferences window, ensure that ‘Enable disk use’ is checked.

To convert them to MP3, first add them to your iTunes Library. Then, ensure that your iTunes’ Importing preferences are set to your desired format and quality settings. These settings are found in “Preferences → Advanced → Importing” on iTunes 6 and later. Then, highlight the Voice memos in your iTunes library, right click on one of them, and choose “Convert Selection to MP3.” Copies of your recordings in MP3 format will be made, and you can then delete the original WAV files.

Q:

Are Logitech’s wireless iPod headphones compatible with the iPod Nano? Logitech’s website only mentions iPod and iPod mini.

- Steven

A:

Logitech’s iPod-specific model is not fully compatible with the iPod nano or the fifth-generation iPod. This model uses the now-defunct remote control port found on prior iPod models as a means to control the iPod’s playback functions. Should you not value this control feature or the solid mount that the transmitter makes with the iPod, the headphones do come with a short adapter cable that will allow them to work on an audio-only basis with the new iPods.

Alternatively, Logitech’s more generic “Wireless Headphones for MP3” will mount a bit more securely to the new iPod models, as they won’t require an adapter cable.

To our knowledge, there does not yet exist any wireless headphones custom-designed for either the iPod nano or new 5G iPod, but they’re likely on their way, for sure.

Q:

I have a 60GB Photo iPod that seems to have lost about 4Gb of disk space. The total size of the files contained in the iTunes Library is 39.95Gb; The iPod reading is showing 40.02Gb used and 15.73GB free. That totals 55.75GB. What has happened to the remaining 4.25GB? I have nothing set up for photos or other files and have tried resetting to factory condition, but with no luck. Any ideas?

- David

A:

We occasionally revisit this issue, but the answer is always the same: it’s not missing… you’ve been a victim of marketing spin. Hard drive and device manufacturers advertise a gigabyte in “decimal” terms, where 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. However, computers and devices interpret this storage space in “binary” terms, where 1GB = 2^30, or 1,073,741,824 bytes.

The ratio of these two interpretations is roughly 0.931, which explains why you’re seeing approximately 93% of your total storage. We have a more detailed FAQ on the issue here.

Q:

I have a question in maintaining photos when using multiple iPods on the same computer. I have an iPod photo 40GB, and I am thinking about upgrading to a 5G iPod 60GB. But because these two iPods have different LCD resolutions, would I be able to use the same photos folder on my Windows PC to sync with both of these iPods, or do I have to keep two copies of the all photos on different folders to sync with individual iPods?

- Simon

A: iTunes will handle all resolution concerns between the two iPods, sizing the photos appropriately for each iPod’s screen. You needn’t worry at all! Simply point both iPods to the same photos folder, containing your original, full-resolution photos, and let iTunes do all the work.


Ask iLounge Archives:

11-6-09: Storing iPod software updates, Playing an iPod continuously, Transferring play counts to a new iTunes library, iPhone backups, Klipsch S4i earphones

10-30-09: Authorization problems with iPod touch, Changing Grid View background in iTunes, iTunes library and Music Folder are different sizes, Older iPods and firmware updates, Reconciling two different iTunes libraries, Syncing multiple devices to one iTunes library

10-23-09: Using a laptop with an iTunes library on an external hard drive, Transferring YouTube videos to iPod, iPod touch accessibility settings, Disabling Shake to Shuffle on iPod nano, Purchased songs fail to download from iTunes Store, Charging and powering off iPhone

10-16-09: Moving iTunes to a new computer, Transferring contacts from Blackberry to an iPhone, Disabling iPhone Backups, Using AV cables for audio only, Problems syncing photos to iPod touch, Memorex iFlip and iPhone compatibility

10-9-09: iPhone OS and external keyboards, Adjusting ratings in a remote iTunes library, Excluding tracks from Genius Mixes, Moving iTunes library out of My Documents, Playlist folders on iPod touch, Refreshing random Smart Playlists

See the rest of the Archives...

Next: iPod Overseas Report: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Previous: iPod Overseas Report: Singapore

Comments

1

“... they’re likely on their way, for sure”?

You just said that to annoy me, right?

—David

Posted by orgel in Falls Church, VA on December 22, 2005 at 11:35 AM (PDT)

2

Well,i am kind of new at this because i just got my nano iPod 2 days ago and i was wondering how do i download songs from here to my iPod?

—Brianna

Posted by Kawaii Angel on December 26, 2005 at 1:50 PM (PDT)

3

Hey allmighty iPod Gods, I have a question. I know they don’t have an adapter to connect the iPod to the PSP yet, but if they make one, would the PSP pick it up as extra space and be able to play movies and songs from the ipod onto the PSP?
Or would Apple and Sony have to agree to make software and hardware to have these two epic devices work together to make one great entertainment system?

Posted by zjbird on December 27, 2005 at 5:24 PM (PDT)

4

I inadvertently deleted everything on my (3RD GEN) ipod. I’m not sure quite how I did it, it must have restored somehow.  Does anyone know of a recovery method since I do not have this music backed up on my computer.

Posted by BFEIII on December 27, 2005 at 8:59 PM (PDT)

5

Before re-formatting my laptop, I consolidated my itunes library creating the .xml file. Now I need to know how to get my library back after insalling the new OS and installing itunes again.

Posted by mcray on December 27, 2005 at 9:04 PM (PDT)

6

whats consolidate?

Posted by emercado15 on December 28, 2005 at 7:39 PM (PDT)

7

never mind

Posted by emercado15 on December 28, 2005 at 7:40 PM (PDT)

8

“While the iPod can sort via any field in an ascending sense (via the built-in “Musicâ€? sub-menus) ...”

I have a 5G 60GB iPod, and the field I most want to sort by is Grouping, but it’s not on the Music sub-menu on my iPod. Any way to add it, or some trick to get the same effect?

Posted by Stan Brown on January 5, 2006 at 1:52 PM (PDT)

9

Responding to my own question grin I guess I can create a smart playlist in iTunes with size>0 sorted by Grouping.

But out of curiosity, is there a way to add other sorts such as Grouping to the iPod 5G Music sub-menu?

Posted by Stan Brown on January 5, 2006 at 1:54 PM (PDT)

10

Im having trouble with My ipod nano [2GB],
the songs are updating into my library but not going onto my ipod itself?

and i only have have 175 songs on it.

Posted by Dominique Dolly on May 31, 2006 at 2:00 PM (PDT)

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